Deleting Domains

This guide explains how to remove domains from your UK DNS Privacy Project authoritative DNS service and outlines important considerations before deletion.

Before You Delete a Domain

Deleting a domain from the UK DNS Privacy Project service has several important implications. Before proceeding with deletion, consider the following:

1. Service Interruption: If the domain is actively using our nameservers, deleting it will eventually cause DNS resolution failure
2. Record Loss: All DNS records associated with the domain will be permanently deleted
3. Analytics Loss: All historical query data and analytics for the domain will be permanently deleted
4. Irreversible Action: Domain deletion cannot be undone - you will need to recreate the domain and all its records if needed later

When to Delete a Domain

Appropriate scenarios for domain deletion include:

• You no longer own the domain
• You’ve transferred DNS management to another provider
• You’re consolidating domains and this one is no longer needed
• You created the domain for testing purposes only

Preparing for Domain Deletion

Before deleting a domain, it’s recommended to:

1. Export DNS Records: Take a backup of your current DNS configuration
2. Update Nameservers: If you plan to keep using the domain with another DNS provider, change the nameservers at your registrar before deletion
3. Check Dependencies: Ensure no critical services depend on the DNS records you’re about to delete

Deleting a Domain

Step 1: Access the Domains List

1. Log in to your UK DNS Privacy Project dashboard
2. Navigate to Dashboard > Authoritative Domains

Step 2: Delete the Domain

There are two ways to delete a domain:

Method 1: From the Domains List

1. Locate the domain you want to delete in the domains list
2. Click the delete (X) icon in the “Actions” column
3. A confirmation dialog will appear

Method 2: From the Domain Details Page

1. Click on the domain name to access its details page
2. Click the Delete Domain button (this may be in a dropdown menu or settings section)
3. A confirmation dialog will appear

Step 3: Confirm Deletion

1. Read the warning message carefully
2. Type the domain name in the confirmation field (if required)
3. Click Delete to permanently remove the domain

After Deletion

After a domain is deleted:

1. It will be immediately removed from your UK DNS Privacy Project dashboard
2. Records will no longer be served from our nameservers
3. If your domain’s nameservers are still pointing to our service, DNS resolution will fail

DNS Propagation After Deletion

If you’ve changed nameservers at your registrar before deletion:

• DNS resolution should continue uninterrupted through your new DNS provider
• Allow 24-48 hours for complete propagation to all DNS resolvers

If you’ve deleted the domain without changing nameservers:

• DNS resolution will begin to fail as the deletion propagates
• Some resolvers may continue serving cached records until their TTL expires

Recreating a Deleted Domain

If you need to add the domain back to the UK DNS Privacy Project service:

1. Follow the Creating Domains process
2. Add your DNS records manually or from a backup
3. Update the nameservers at your registrar if necessary

Account-Level Domain Limits

Deleting domains you no longer need helps manage your account’s domain quota:

• Free accounts: Limited number of domains allowed
• Paid accounts: Higher domain limits based on your subscription tier

Deleting unused domains ensures you have capacity available for new domains when needed.

Special Considerations

Subdomains

When deleting a parent domain:

• All associated subdomains will also be deleted
• Ensure you’ve backed up records for any subdomains you may want to recreate later

DNSSEC-Enabled Domains

If the domain has DNSSEC enabled:

1. Delete any DS records at your registrar before deleting the domain
2. Failure to remove DS records could cause DNSSEC validation failures if you recreate the domain

Troubleshooting

“Cannot Delete Domain” Error

If you receive an error when attempting to delete a domain:

• Verify you have the necessary permissions for your account
• Check if the domain has special protections enabled that prevent deletion
• Contact support if the issue persists